The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-09-09
LENS SACRIFICE.
Written for this paper.l

1t was strange scene that Stanley Graham
saw in the rude public hall of the Florida
town where he was spending the winter. A
dance was i'll progress, merry gathering OF
the natives, and the rude laughter and uncon
ventiOnal manner were in strong contrast
with the refinemenG ana rigid formality to
which Stanley was accustomed He looked
OH awhile indifferently. then turned away
with the thought that the whole affair was
uncongenial and repugnant to him.
Just then northern acquaintance hailed
him.
81 say, Stan, what's your hurry? Come
back, want to introduce you to the prettiest
Cracker girl you ever saw"
20, bother with your Cracker girlsi" STAN
ley replied in an annoyed tone; "they are too
barbarous for me-"
The friend laughed and said: "Well, come
and see the fairest barbarian of them all -
and seizing Stanley by the arm he led him
away an unwilling prisoner.
moment later he was being introduced
TO Sukey Sullivan, the friends eyes cleaning
with pleasure as he saw Stanley vince at the
name.
"Great heavens!" thought the latter, grit
ting his teeth as he bowed low, "what O hor-
rible namei"
And then, as he raised his head, he saw a
girl of such rare beauty as fairly startled
him.
The spell of her beauty was rudely broken
when Sukey said to her new acquaintance,
"A right smart lot o. folks hyar, mister
reckon thar's gwine ter be heap o. fun.n
Stanley WINGED again, but replied with as
much grace as possible, and Sukey, evidently
we'll pleased with her new friend, found much
to talk about.
"D'ye low that ye has anythin' like this UP
northF' she asked after awhile, looking with
evident satisfaction ON the scene before her
"No, we never have anything like this"
Stanley responded, and the tone OF his voice
caused her to turn quickly and look at him,
while the color deepened on her cheek.
"Oh, l know, mister. Ye reckon that
we'uns air po' lot of folks, rough an igno-
rant, an no fine ways like yo' folks up thar"
There was panied look in her eyes and
tone of reproach in her voice that Stanley
could not help noticing, and he hastened to
make amends for his thoughtless words
Skillfully turning the conversation into other
channels, he drew out the girl, and while she
was wholly unconventional In her manner,
and her abundant provincialisms betrayed
her origin, he found her neither rude nor
boisterous But she was bright, witty, orig
inal and quite sensible in her talk, and Stan
lev was interested in spite Of himself
Two days after the dancing party Stanley
went two miles through the forest from town
TO "Bowlin settlement, y seeking the presence
Of this fair barbarian. Drawing rein in front
Of the Sullivan cabin, In q little clearing
which formed part of the settlement, he en-
countered the old man Sullivan, q tall, lean,
cadaverous individual, with shock Of tow
colored hair, expressionless blue eyes, dull,
discouraged air, and corncob pipe The
putting of this pipe was his sole act in life
that was performed with any vigor or in
tcrest.
aMornin', stranger! Won't yer Tight N
cum in?D said Sullivan, with ready southern
hospitality
Stanley tied his horse and entered the bare,
comfortless living room. The dinner was
cooking in the open fireplace, and the odors
Of cabbage and frying bacon assailed his nos
trils. Sukey's home was rude and cheer
less one, indeed, as Stanley looked about it,
and her copsing into the room was to him like
ray of sunshine on bleak landscape. Yet
he accepted the invitation to dinner, gulped
down the unsavory viands with amazing
grace and did the agreeable to .paW" and
"maw."
All for simple Cracker girl whose beauty
had entranced himi What would his north
ern friends cay II thsy could see hint
What would hls proud mother says There
arc some who escape the disagreeable things
Of life by ignoring them. That was Stanleys
way. He left these questions unanswered;
no would not allow himself to consider them,
but he gave himself up 20 the joys Of the
present.
And 50 day after day he turned his face
toward the Sullivan cabin, either on horse
beck or on foot, and as often he would see,
long before reaching the clearing. the blue
scnbonnst OF the girl as she stood at the gate
rafting for his coming. And joining her.
they took long walks In the forest by half
hidden paths beneath the towering pines,
where insensihly Stanley's regard for the
Girl grew daily stronger, and his fluent and
unreserved talk became unconscionsly the
authorizing Of his hearts affection. vi